Ilmari Tapiovaara

Born in Hameenlinna in 1914, Ilmari Tapiovaara was an influential Finnish designer. He grew up surrounded by nature which can be seen throughout his work and how it has influenced his designs. Tapiovaara studied at the Helsinki School of Applied Arts in the 1930s and went on to complete an internship at Le Corbusier's iconic studio. Here he learnt how Finnish furniture was increasingly being exported abroad.

In the years that followed, Tapiovaara contributed to Finland's war effort through his work as an industrial designer, he helped to provide the country with improved infrastructure and furniture. As head of the National Planning Department, he was responsible for designing buildings and furniture, including public facilities such as hospitals and shelters. Ilmari Tapiovaara's work explored the concept of multiplicity and he laid the foundations of Finnish industrial design.

"It is impossible to create a new object without a point of reference, and nature is the best and closest manual for the industrial designer. Whether in terms of the object’s purpose, that is, its functional requirements; or in terms of shape, colour, material and adequate proportion.” - Ilmari Tapiovaara